Conveyer system



Jan. 30, 1945. G. A. LYON CONVEYER SYSTEM Filed Sept. 8, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l VE U 650%,: mas/er [Yo/v Jan. 30, 1945. G. A. LYON GONVEYER SYSTEM Filed Sept. 8, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 VE 57 650,96: ALBser Zro Y Patented Jan. 30, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONVEYER SYSTEM George Albert Lyon, Allenhurst, N. J.

Application September 8, 1941, Serial No. 409,991

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a conveyer system for moving cup-shaped vessels through a liquid bath. The apparatus of the invention is particularly well adapted for conveying more or less elongate cylindrical metal articles closed at one end through a pickling bath. The invention has been specifically applied to the pickling of cartridge cases and the cylindrical vessels that represent intermediate stages in the fabrication, by drawing and tapering operations, of elongate, tapered and bottle-necked cartridge cases from relatively shallow cup-shaped blanks. Such fabrication includes a number of annealing steps alternating with the mechanical forming steps, each annealing step suitably being followed by a pickling operation.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide conveyer means for moving deep vessels through a liquid bath in such manner as to expose the interior surfaces of the vessels completely and for the longest time possible to the bath in which the vessels are being immersed.

Another important object of the invention is to provide conveyer means for transporting tall containers through a liquid bath in such manner as to expose to the bath even the surfaces from or on which the vessels are supported.

To these ends the invention provides means for advancing cup-shaped vessels sideways while progressively lowering the vessels, to immerse the same in a bath, and then progressively raising the vessels, to cause the vessels to emerge from tr a bath. The vessels are advanced in an inclined position. and the inclination, which during immersion is less than horizontal, whereby the vessels are easily filled with liquid, is progressively increased, so that the vessels, when emerging from the bath, are inclined more than horizontally, and the liquid contained therein can drain out completely. Asthe vessels are advanced through the bath, the vessels are rotated at least enough to expose to the bath the surfaces on or from which the vessels were supported when immersed.

More specifically, conveyer means according to the present invention may include a plurality of members linked to form a belt and means for movably supporting a portion of said belt at spaced points above a bath so that the belt portion between these points will sag and dip into the bath. The belt can then be advanced through the bath, one portion at a time. The belt is supported horizontally, and cartridge cases or other cup-shaped vessels being treated are inclined thereacross, with the closed ends leading the open ends. When the belt is advanced over the suD ports, the vessels will enter the bath open end up and emerge from the bath open end down, in spite of the fact that the belt is everywhere horizontal.

As any one belt portion supporting a single vessel descends into the bath, the leading part of the supporting belt portion is lowered below the trailing part of the supporting belt portion. On ascent, the relative vertical position of the leading and trailing parts of the supporting belt portions is reversed. The supported vessels are free to rotate to at least a limited extent relative to the supporting surfaces. Regardless of whether the vessels are initially supported by the leading or trailing parts of thesupporting belt surfaces, the vessels, being free to rotate, will rotate, under the influence of gravity, over the supporting surfaces as the relative vertical positions of the leading and trailing parts of the supporting surfaces are reversed when any one belt portion is advanced through the sag between the two spaced supports above the bath. As a result, the initial supporting surfaces are exposed to' the bath, other surfaces that have been exposed to the bath during the descending movement assuming the function of supporting the vessel during the ascending movement.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred illustrative example of a device according to this invention shown in the appended drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic longitudinal section through a pickling bath and a washing bath provided with a conveyer system according to this invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the conveyer belt of Figure 1 carrying a number of cartridge cases in an intermediate stage of fabrication as seen in the direction of the arrows of line IIII of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a por'tion of the conveyer belt of Figure 1, carrying a number of cartridge cases in an intermediate stage of fabrication as seen in the direction of the arrows of line III-III of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a greatly enlarged plan view of a portion of the belt of Figure 1, showing the linked members forming said belt, and, in dotted lines, cartridge cases carried thereby.

Figure 5 is a greatly enlarged side view of a portion of the belt of Figure 1, showing a number of cartridge cases in an intermediate stage of fabrication carried by the belt.

As shown in the drawings:

The conveyer system described herein as a preferred example operates to advance cartridge cases or the like first through a container l shown in Figure 1 as filled with a pickling liquid II and then through another container l2 filled with water l3. shown as having a common wall II but may, of course, be constructed as separate vessels disposed in tandem relationship. The pickling liquid may consist of 5 per cent sulphuric acid. Any pickling liquid still adhering to vessels that have been advanced through the pickling bath is washed on by the water.

The conveyer comprises an endless belt it formed of linked members in a manner described more fully herein below. The belt I 6 is supported and advanced in the direction of the arrow above and below the containers Ill and i2 longitudinally thereof. More particularly, pairs of spaced rollers I! are disposed in tandem relationship with each other and with the container at opposed container ends above the tops of the containers. The belt portions between the paired rollers I! serve as loading and unloading stations. Other rollers I8 serve to carry the belt past the opposed bottom end corners of the con tainers. Still another roller I9 is disposed above the wall H separating the pickling bath II from the water l3. Above these two bodies of liquid, the belt is allowed to sag, forming one bight 20 that dips into the pickling liquid H and another shorter bight 2| that dips into the water 13.

As the belt I6 is advanced by means of tractor rollers, or otherwise, successive belt portions traverse, first, the pickling bath II and then the water l3, carrying with them cartridge cases or other cup-shaped vessels supported thereby. The function of the belt 16 in first immersing the vessels in the liquid and then raising them out of the liquid is identical in both the pickling bath and the water bath, although, of course, the water bath not being as long as the pickling bath, less time is required for passing a vessel through the water bath. The following description of the means for and manner of carrying cups or the like through the pickling bath is therefore equally applicable to the conveyance of vessels through the water bath.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the belt IS includes a plurality of linked elongate members 25 extending across the belt in the plane thereof. Each link member 25 has a central more or less U-shaped part 26. The top of each U is closed by a rounded bar 21 afiixed to the under side of each link member. .A downwardly hooked plate 28 extends from the bottom of each U over and into enveloping engagement with the bar 21 of the adjoining link member. All the link members are thus connected movably to form the belt l6. Each link member further includes a short wing 30 and a long wing 28, the long wing 29 having a straight leading edge and the short wing 30 having a receding leading edge, so that the tip of the long wing leads the tip of the short wing. The short wings 30 of all the link members form one side of the belt I6, the other side being formed by the long Wings 29.

The specific form of conveyer according to the present invention described as a preferred example is intended for the conveyance of cartridge cases in an intermediate stage of fabrication that The containers l0 and I2 are.

form essentially elongate cylinders having a rounded bottom at one end and open at the other end. Such cases are shown in Figure 5 and, in dotted lines, in Figure 4, being designated generally by the reference numeral 32, with the rounded bottoms at 33 and the open ends at 34. To hold these cases when laid diagonally across the belt, from sliding oil! the belt while permitting a limited amount of rotation, each link member 23 is provided with two erect pins 36 disposed at thetips oi the wings 29 and 30, and two pins 31 disposed respectively at that corner of the U- shaped member adjoining the short wing 30, and at the middle of the opposed leg of the U-shaped link part. As best shown in Figure 4, each case 32 is supported Jointly by two link members 25, being laid on its side, with the bottomed end over the short wing 30 of one link member and leading the open end disposed on the long wing 29 of another link member. The pins 36 at the wing tips keep the cases from sliding off the belt lengthwise. The otherpins 31 in each U- shaped member of adjoining link members permit a limited amount of rolling longitudinally of the belt while keeping the cases from being displaced angularly to any degree that would permit longitudinal sliding past the pins in the wing tips.

The exact manner of conveyance by the conveyer system described is best shown in Figures 2 and 3 which show, respectively, the position of the cartridge cases 32 during descent and on ascent along the bight 20.

When descending, with bottom ends 33 leading, the cases are easily filled with pickling liquid, for air contained in the cases can easily escape through the open end 34 pointing upward. At least when full, the cases tend to rest against the lowermost pins 31. When ascending, with the open ends 34 trailing, the cases are completely drained. Further, on ascent, the cases tend to roll around an arc to rest against the trailing pins 31, which are now closest to the lowest point of the bight 20. When the cases thus rotate through an arc, the surfaces by which the cases were supported in descent are exposed to the bath, other surfaces that have already been exposed to the bath serving to support the cases. To permit such limited rotation, it is not suflicientmerely to space the pins 31 in adjoining link members 25 by more than the diameter of the cases, but the pins 36 in the long wing 29 of one link member and in the short wing 30 of the adjoining link member, which limit longitudinal sliding of a single case, must also be spaced by more than the length of one cartridge case, since rotation of the cases inclined diagonally across the belt displaces the cases somewhat across the belt.

In place of the pins described hereinabove, bars, plates or the like may be employed. It is also possible to suspend the cup-shaped vessels above or below a belt by means of hooks, bars or mandrels connected rigidly to the belt. The yessels will tend to rotate around any suspending member that may be inserted therein or over any support means acting externally of the vessel so as to maintain at all times the lowest possible level, whereby the initial suspending cup surfaces are exposed to the bath during the later stages of the treatment.

In place of the linking means shown, other linking means may be adopted, or the belt may be formed of one unit composed of meshed or chain-linked material, as long as means are provided for advancing the cylinders or other deep vessels sideways in an inclined position, with the bottom ends leading, along a downwardly arched path, while permitting the vessels to rotate to a limited extent under the influence of gravity as surfaces supporting the vessels have their inclination varied in conformance with the inclination of the arched path.

The contrivances of this invention are operative for many other purposes than the one described in the illustrative example, for instance, for washing wide-necked bottles.

Since thus many details of construction and process may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of the present invention, it is not my purpose to limit the patent granted on this invention otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A conveyer system for moving a cup-shaped article through a bath which includes linked members forming an arcuate horizontal belt, means for movably supporting said belt above said bath so that a belt portion will sag into said bath, and stop means for retaining said article on said belt when disposed sideways thereacross in inclined position, with the bottom end leading, said means permitting rotation of said article relat 've to the belt under the influence of gravity as descent of the article and subsequent ascent reverse the direction in which the article tends to roll toward the lowest point in the path of the article through the bath.

2. A conveyer system for moving tall bottomed vessels through a bath which includes a plurality of members linked to form an arcuate horizontal belt, spaced means for movably supporting a portion of said belt above said bath so that said portion will sag and be partially immersed in said bath, and stop means for limiting movement of vessels laid across said belt in an inclined position, with their bottomed ends leading, to rotation sufliciently to expose new supporting surfaces as the vessels are moved between said supports and through said bath when the belt is advanced.

3. A conveyer system for moving cup-shaped vessels through a bath which includes a plurality of members, each having a U-shaped portion, a rounded bar closing said U and attached to the under side of the member, a downwardly hooked plate extending from the bottom of each U over and into enveloping engagement with the bar of the adjoining member, a short wing having a receding leading edge in one side of each member, a long wing having a straight leading edge in the opposite side of each member, so that the tip of the long wing leads the tip of the short wing, and erect pins disposed at the wing tips, at the corner of the U adjacent the short wing, and at the middle of the opposed leg of the U. all said members being linked by their bars and hooked plates to form an endless belt, said conveyer system further comprising means for movably supporting said belt above said bath at spaced points permitting the belt portion intermediate said points to sag and dip into the bath, whereby all belt portions can be made to traverse the bath when the belt is moved over said supports.

4. In a. conveyer for moving cup-shaped vessels through a bath, arcuate horizontal belt means for advancing the vessels through the bath along a path that first descends and then ascends, and stop means for retaining said vessels on said belt in inclined position thereacross, with the bottom ends leading, whereby said vessels are easily filled with liquid and then completely drained, said means permitting rotation of said vessel in relation to said belt as gravity, on transition from the descending to the ascending part of said path, reverses the direction relative to said belt in which said vessels tend to roll relative to said belt toward the lowest point of said path,

5. In a conveyer system for moving cup-shaped vessels through a bath, arcuate horizontal belt means for advancing the vessels through the bath along a path that first descends into the bath and then ascends therefrom, said means including stop means rigidly connected to said belt means for retaining said vessels loosely in an inclined position on said belt means, with their bottom ends leading, in a manner such that as descent changes into ascent, and as gravity commences to act in a difierent direction in relation to said supporting means, the vessels are free to rotate under the influence of gravity relative to said supporting means so that said means will support the vessels at other surfaces thereof.

6. A link adapted to be joined with other like links to form a conveyer belt, said link including a U-shaped member, a bar amxed to the under side of said member so as to close the top of said U, a downwardly hooked plate extending from the bight 01" said U and adapted to extend over and into engaging relationship with the bar of another like link, a. wing extending from one leg of said U having a receding leading edge, another wing extending from the opposed leg oi! said U having a straight leading edge so that the tip of the latter wing leads the tip of the first mentioned wing, and erect pins disposed, respectively, at the tips of the wings, at the corner or the U adjacent the trailing wing, and at the leg of the U adjacent the leading wing.

7. [A link adapted to be joined with other like links to form a conveyer belt, said link including an elongate sheet metal member, means for linking said member in parallelism with other like members to form a belt wherein said members extend transversely, and stop means effective jointly with other like stop means on other members tc limit rotation of cup-shaped vessels laid diagonal- 1y across said belt over two of said members.

8. In a conveyer system for moving cup-shaped articles through a bath, linkage means forming a curved horizontal conveyer belt supported so that at an intermediate position the belt sags for dipping into the bath, and a plurality of article supporting means on the belt linkage arranged transversely diagonally of the belt, each of said means being formed to retainingly hold a cupshaped article in place on the belt and with the closed end of the article advancing ahead of the open end as the belt descends into said intermediate position whereby to enable automatic filling of the cup-shaped article and so that on the ascending portion of the belt away from said position the cup-shaped article is supported with the open end down to enable emptying of the same, said retaining means holding each article in exposed position such that the articles may be quickly placed upon or removed from the belt.

GEORGE ALBERT LYON. 

